Garavaglia’s Thermopylae: it has the signatures (thanks to Giorgetti and the regional governors)

There were three hundred Spartans; Massimo Garavaglia has found eighty. Bear this story in mind before claiming that politics is nothing but miserable and devoid of ideals. Garavaglia will challenge Salvini at the Lega congress because he has secured eighty signatures – eighty brave souls who have everything to lose, except their smiles. Among them is Virginio Caparvi, a Member of Parliament, who signed because “I don’t want a Lega that follows Vannacci, and I can assure you that more than eighty others feel the same way”. Garavaglia calls it “a miracle, and now the emperor has no clothes”. What was intended as a symbolic gesture has turned into a head-to-head contest where losing will be glorious and winning will be painful. Salvini has collected a full quota of signatures, but the most significant one in his favour – that of Giorgetti – is missing. The most popular one is missing too: Zaia’s, along with those of Fedriga, Fontana and Fugatti. It’s Thermopylae in Milan. (Caruso continues in insert IV)

The following MPs have signed in support of Garavaglia: Romeo, Caparvi, Comaroli, Bordonali, Spelgatti, and Daisy Pirovano is also said to have signed. The President of the Veneto Region, Alberto Stefani, has signed in support of Salvini; in recent months, he has tried – in vain – to make people forget that he is merely a figurehead, only to seal the deal with this signature. It is true, however, that there is a ‘northern’ motion devised by Molinari, Zaia, Fontana and Fedriga, which is intended, once again, as an olive branch to Salvini – a way of making him understand: either you decide collectively, or after Garavaglia you’ll have another Garavaglia. There will be 706 delegates, and it must be remembered that Garavaglia had to seek signatures whilst away from the region. The delegates casting votes are Salvini’s supporters – those who elected him a year ago at the Florence congress. This extraordinary congress serves two purposes: firstly, to place Massimiliano Romeo under special administration as secretary of the Lega Lombarda. The second is to extend Salvini’s term of office by one year. In theory, if he wins the congress, he could remain in office until 2031 – just like in Moscow and Beijing – and choose who should stand as candidates in these general elections as well as in the upcoming regional elections. Salvini opted for an elective congress, but he had envisaged it – and stated as much at Pontida – as a show-of-hands vote. It is only Garavaglia’s tenacity that is now forcing him into a secret ballot, and behind closed doors Salvini must surely be thinking that, in the south, the truth always lies in the hidden depths. Do not overlook the element of charm. Yesterday, Salvini was interviewed by Agi, and the old Salvini – the likeable one – would have asked the editor: ‘Dear editor, where is the journalist who covered the League for twenty years, that Federica Valenti, who recounted my “assault on heaven”? Where has she been moved to?’ Garavaglia succeeded partly thanks to Giorgetti’s neutrality. His silence was an invitation to back Garavaglia, but imagine if he’d actually spoken his mind. Like a true hidalgo.